"Chat" is Google's Answer to Android's messaging nightmare » YugaTech

“Chat” is Google’s Answer to Android’s messaging nightmare

Google is reportedly working on a permanent fix to the ever-present Android texting problem. This is in fact even one of the reasons why most consumers who favor Apple devices stay, because of the simplicity and effectiveness of iMessage. The report that Google is planning on creating a streamlined messaging called “Chat” came first on The Verge.

In order to focus their effort on developing “Chat” Google has paused all work on their supposed new messaging space, Allo. Going as far as allocating the entire team into working on Android messages, which will be Chat’s main application. Chat is based on what Google calls the “Universal Profile for Rich Communication Services” or Rich Communication Services (RCS). It will not be a standalone app but rather a supplement to the SMS feature of Android messages.

It will include almost all the basic services that SMS offers but with additional features you would normally see on apps like Messenger or WhatsApp. Think of it as a like a built-in Facebook Messenger.

Image by Google

The new feature will be a carrier-based service and Google will not affect it directly. Although they will still spearhead its development so that each carrier’s Chat services will be interpolated. Unlike iMessage, Chat won’t be encrypted and will follow the legal intercept standards. Chat messages will be charged through a consumer’s data plan and not through their normal SMS plan. As such, charges will be dependent on the carrier. If the user is texting someone without Chat enabled, say an iOS user, then the message will automatically revert back to SMS.

Google is expecting carriers to switch to Chat this year, although there might be those who aren’t too eager to change just yet. The feature will also be turned on for most users and Android devices on the market, though the specific timing is still dependent on the carrier’s decision.

source: The Verge

Zen Estacio

Zen Estacio is a Multimedia Producer for YugaTech. He is the team's laptop guru and one of their resident gamers. He has a monthly column compiling the latest and greatest the Nintendo Switch has to offer. Aside from that, he regularly writes gaming news, reviews, and impressions. You can hit him up at @papanZEN

7 Comments

Piolo says:

7 years ago

Ano po yung ever-present Android texting problem?
- Reply

yerl says:

7 years ago

wala naman prob ang present android txting, nga d tulad kasi sa mga Apple devices ung may iMsg eh para saa akin parang un na lang ata advantage ng iOS sa Andoid

ross says:

7 years ago

hopefully mag ka totoo na nga yan din minsan gusto ko sa mga iDevices ung iMsg. halos yan na lang ang kulang sa android
- Reply
Danny says:

7 years ago

When will Globe roll this out to all of their subscribers? I’m just so tired of waiting for them to do so.
- Reply

D says:

7 years ago

I agree. I reached out to globe. So far.. no feedback. Tsk.

Kunsel says:

7 years ago

“This is in fact even one of the reasons why most consumers favor Apple devices, because of the simplicity and effectiveness of iMessage.”

Care to cite an article or research for this to support your claim? Thanks.
- Reply

Zen Estacio says:

7 years ago

Sorry, we’ve edited the statement to reflect what we wanted to say.:)

It’s based on first-hand accounts for iOS users we know, including those who changed from Android to iOS, that is of course apart from the ecosystem they keep on saying.:)

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